of the Canons but were written in the Collection of Isidore Mercator were of equal Authority with the residue For the making of which Controversie the more plain and to shew what they mean by the Body of the Canons he tells us It is certain that the more Ancient Collection of the Decretal Epistles of the Roman Bishops and the Canons of divers Councils acquired such a name that the Volum was called The Book or Code or BODY of CANONS increased by the addition of other Councils which were afterwards celebrated But the more ancient and full collection of the Epistles of Roman Bishops and Canons of Councils was that of Cresconius of which I have spoken before saith he Which being increased by the addition of many Canons and Epistles went under the name of the Book or BODY of CANONS and whereas there were many other Collections of Canons compiled that which is the richest of all made by Isidore sirnamed Mercator containing the Epistles of the Ancient Roman Bishops beginning from Clement was Longè recentior far younger than they all as Hincmarus Archbishop of Rhemes does testifie Forasmuch as it was not brought out of Spain into France before the times of Charles the Great by Riculphus Archbishop of Mentz For so he testifies in a Letter of his to Hincmarus Laudunensis beginning Sicut de Libro c. But he who first collected Canons out of the foresaid Epistles published at first by Isidore and inserted them into the books of the Kings of the Franks was Benedictus Levita as he testifieth of himself in his preface before the fifth book of those Canons who writ in the times of the Sons of Ludovicus Pins the Emperour Ludovicus Lotharius and Charles as me shewed where he saith I have inserted these Canons c. to wit those WARES of Isidore Mercator which were brought as thou hast heard of Hincmarus into France out of Spain by Riculphus Nè quis calumniari possit ab Ecclesiâ Romanâ aliquid hujusmodi commentum esse Lest any one should slander us and say the Church of Rome invented such a business as this I think here is enough He looks upon it as a Commenium a meer Fiction and is 〈◊〉 left any one should have the advantage of Fathering such a dreadful Bastard on the Church of Rome He calls them Isidore the Merchants Wares he does not refel the Bishops of France he dares not affirm they were in the Ancient Code of Epistles and Councils he acknowledgeth them far younger than the BODY of CANONS and subscribes to Hincmarus Archbishop of Rhemes citing him who writ against Isidore as a good and Authentick Author He confesseth that they were never known in France till the times of Charles the Great that is 700 years after they first began to be written and that they were introduced into the books of the Kings of the Franks by Benedictus Levita in the times of Ludovicus Lotharius which was about the year 850. So that the Church was governed well enough without them and about 800 years after our Saviours Birth they were first hateht as meer Innovations This is too large a Chink for an Enemy to open but he proceedeth further That the same Riculphus Bishop of Mentz did live in the times of Charles the Great many Monuments of that Age do make it certain especially the Testament of the same Charles the Great to which this Riculphus is found to have subscribed among divers others We find that he was President also in a Council at Mentz held in the year of our Redemption 813. c. Since therefore the French Regions which are nearest to Spain knew not the Collection of Isidore before the times of Riculphus much less Italy it is a conjecture that this Isidore did live and write not long before and so it was first published by Riculphus who brought it thither then by Benedictus who put it into the Capitular books and lastly by Hincmarus Junior Bishop of Laon the last Collector unto this our Age which Hincmarus of Rhemes a man of a keener smell reprehendeth in many things defaming that collection of Isidore which the other used for which cause he was accused For Frodoardus in his History of Rhemes Cap. 16. near the end saith of him that being accused because he had condemned the Decretal Epistles of the Roman Bishops he professed and protested otherwise that he admitted held and approved them with the greatest honour Vpon this occasion to wit it appears he was branded with a mark because he had signified himself not to have approved that Collection of Isidore in all things Baronius you see who is one of the greatest Friends to the See of Rome endeavours to remove the matter of Isidore as far as he can from the Roman Chair being sore afraid lest the guilt of so many Forgeries should too apparently be charged upon 〈◊〉 For which cause he will not have the book so much as known in Italy nay not in France which is nearer unto Spain for 800 years time but that it came out of Spain first being brought by Riculphus Perhaps Riculphus was never there He doth not tell us that he went into Spain for ought I can find nor upon what occasion nor in what City nor of whom he received Isidore which putteth me in mind of Cacus his device who being a strong Thief and robbing Hercules of his Oxen drew them all backward by the Tail into his Den that the print of their heels being found backwards they might not be tracked but seem to be gone another way But he fails in his design for as it is strange that Italy should not know the Decretal Epistles of its own Popes for 800 years till Riculphus brought them out of Spain so is it more strange that being such Forgeries as he would have them Hincmarus Archbishop of Rhemes should be accused for condemning them and ratled up and Branded in such a manner and compelled to recant by so powerful an Enemy for it seems he had no way to save himself but by renouncing his Opinion The jealousie of the Roman Church and its tenderness over Isidore appeareth most exceeding great in the hard dealing which Hincmarus met with who though he did recant was still noted with infamy as if to speak against Isidore were a Crime not to be washed off by the Tears of Repentance in the Church of Rome Perhaps the poor Bishop was an Hypocrite in that forced Confession and for this was branded because he confessed a lye as men upon the Rack are wont to do for his own deliverance for that he knew still that Isidore was a Counterfeit and must therefore be reputed a rotten Member of the Church of Rome This Baronius observes while he ascribeth Hincmarus his reprehending Isidore's Collection to his keener scent whereby he was able more readily than others to smell a Rat and discover the Cheat. Baronius proceedeth further in condemning the collection of Isidore thus But
with him in his Preface But then he maketh amends for the Omission for he hath the Synodical Epistle of the Nicene Council a new Record which I find not in Isidore or in any before him It is an humble Address of the Nicene Council to Pope Sylvester beseeching his Holiness to ratifie their Decrees To shew that no Council is of any value unless it be approved by the Bishop of Rome And he has a Gracious Answer too by the same Pen or I am sorely deceived for they are both alike so full of Barbarismes and false Latines that another Dunce can hardly be found like the first to imitate them In good earnest they are the most feculent Forgeries that ever I saw To speak much in little is they are worse than the Sinuessa Council They are without Greek Copies which where all the rest is in Greek is an evil sign But as they are you shall have them when we come to Binius that the more Learned may judge of their Excellency He has a Pseudo-Catholick Council at Rome under Pope Sylvester with the same Premonition to the Reader word for word which he set before the Sinuessa Council Propter Exemplariorum intolerabilem nimiamque Differentiam Depravationem c. He has the other Forgeries of Isidore Mercator and among the rest the Epilogus brevis concerning the number of Witnesses He defaces and suppresses the sixth Council of Carthage as well as his Predecessor What with blotting out and putting in he so disguizes the Face of Antiquity that unless it be to very clear eyes the Primitive Church appeareth not the same Yet are his Voluminous Tomes dedicated to the Invincible Emperour Charles V. being Printed in the year 1538. by Peter Quintell Cum Gratiâ Privilegio tam Caesario quam Regio Colloniae That is At Collein by the consent and Authority both of the King and Emperour So far even Monarchs are deluded sometimes with a shew of Piety and the Light of Depraved and Corrupted Learning CAP. IX of Carranza his Epitome of the Decrees and Councils He owneth the Forgeries CArranza being but a short Compendium was Printed at Paris An. 1564. to wit very fitly for the more general sprcading of the corrupted Councils All the other Collections being great Volumes but this a little Informer or Companion for the Pocket It was dedi ated to the Illustrious Dicgo Hurtado Mendoza Orator in the State of Venice and his Imperial Majesties Vicegerent in the Holy Council of Trent He lays down all the Apostles Canons for good Laws even the last it self being not excepted and selects Decrees out of the Decretal Epistles for good and Catholick Canons The Decretal Epistles themselves would be too long for so short a Compendium and therefore he has not the Decrees themselves but Excerptions He has the Pontisical of the Popes Lives but more modesty than to ascribe it to Damasus It is a part of his Text however He has but 〈◊〉 Canons of the Nicene Council and skippeth over the Council of Sinuessa He omits the Epilogus Brevis but owns the Council to which it is annexed He followeth Isidore and exceeds him a little CAP. X. Of Surius his four Tomes and how the Forgeries are by him desended He hath the Rescripts of Atticus and Cyril by which pope Zozimus was condemned of Forgery in the sixth Council of Carthage LAurentius Surius was a Monk of the Order of the Carthusians He wrote four Tomes He pretends to have all the Antiquities of the Church at large and to mend and restore the defects of the Ancient Manuscripts What their mending and restoring is you begin to discern He dedicates the whole Work to Philip King of Spain Sicily and Neapo lis c. and directeth it in another Epistle to the most August and Invincible Emperour Charles V. It was Printed at Collein by Geruvinus Galenius and the Heirs of John Quintell in the year of our Lord 1567. He has the counterfeit Preface of Isidore Mercator before detected The Treatise of the Primacy of the Roman Church all the 84 Canons of the Apostle and the Apostolical Constitutions of Pope Clement newly added to the Tomes of the Councils for good Records though Isidore Mercator some of the Apostles Canons and Clement's Constitutions are rejected by some of the best of his most able Followers as you shall see hereafter not I suppose upon mature deliberation but inevitable necessity The Liber Pontisicalis of Pope Damasus that notorious Cheat is the ground-work upon which he commenteth It so exactly containeth the Lives and Acts of the Bishops of Rome that when I first approached it I apprehended every Life to have been recorded by some person contemporary with the Pope of which he was writing for it nominates the time of their Session to a Year a Moneth a Week and a Day from S. Peter downward Which being done for no Episcopal Chair beside it made the Roman See seem of more Eminent Concernment than the residue from the very first beginning such a peculiar and extraordinary care being no mean Indication of its High Exaltation above all other Chairs that were not for a long time together so accurately regarded But a little after I found a shrewd sign for beside the errours and contradictions noted before in the midst of all this exactness he 〈◊〉 sometimes 3 4 5 〈◊〉 9 years together This shall be proved hereafter with more than we yet say when we come to Binius He has all the Decretal Epistles and the Donation of Constantine for good Records The Epistle of Melchiades concerning the Munificence of Constantine the Spurious Roman Council under Pope Sylvester with the Epilogus Brevis the Letters between Athanasius and Pope Mark concerning the number of the Nicene Canons Those Letters tell us the Canons of the Nicene Council are 70. and yet he records but 20 of them The most of these Great Appearances are rejected afterwards by Baronius Binius Labbè and the Collectio Regia By good fortune he has the Rescripts of Atticus and S. Cyril the Patriarchs concerning the true Records of the Nicene Council sent to the sixth Council of Carthage upon the occasion of Zozimus before related The Letter of that Council to Celestine the Bishop of Rome concerning that Controversie And a Scrap of the Council it self but he omits the Decrees Did I follow them throughout all Ages my work would be endless We should find much foul Play in following Councils and Records of the Church but for several weighty Reasons I have at present confined my self within the compass of the first 400 years next after the Death of our Lord whose Name is not to be mentioned without praise and glory Note well I go on thus to observe particularly what Forgeries every Collector of the Councils owneth and what Emperours Kings and Popes their Books are dedicated to and what priviledge in all the principal parts of the Popes Jurisdiction they come forth withal and
Though matters are so carried as if she were great enough to be her own Support and without being founded on any other were her own Foundation All I shall observe is that Hadrian 1. and Leo 9. have been very zealous and tender of these Records that Benedictus Levita got them confirmed by the Roman Chair that several Popes since Leo 9. have imbraced countenanced and furthered them as Pope Paul V. and Sixtus V. in particular that Isidore Mercator whom Baronius confesseth to be a Cheat is the common Father of the Popish Compilers That the Codes or Tomes of the Councils at this day received in the Roman Church for good and Sacred Records are by these Collectors James Merlin Peter Crab Laurentius Surius Carranza Nicolinus Severinus Binius Labbe the Collectio Regia old Ivo Gratian c. have digested these Impostures and recorded them as the Sacred Authenticks of the H. Catholick Church that whole Armies of Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Doctors Schoolmen Jesuites Monks Fryars Canonists c. have cited them for many Ages as true Records that Turrian in particular with divers others have set themselves strenuously to defend them that they have imposed the Cheat upon Kings and Emperours that the Forgeries are backed with the Authorities of Popes Emperours Kings c. All no doubt having a zeal but not according to knowledge that is being exceeding regardful of the Interest of the Chair and studiously maintaining the Temporal Kingdom of the Church as they call it but erring in the manner While they thought this the way to advance her which is now become her apparent shame and a probable means without sudden amendment to bring her to Confusion That Princes may a little more clearly see into the Mystery of these counterfeit Decretals it is meet in the close of all to expose to the view of the World one Passage out of many other which we have passed over in silence The Design of it touches Kings and Emperours to the Quick though for greater security to the Chair it be covertly expressed It is in the 〈◊〉 of S. Peter to the people of Rome in S. Clements Letter to S. James and it is commended to the consideration of the World by all the Popish Compilers of the Decrees and Councils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 downwards 〈◊〉 revived in the first Epistle of 〈◊〉 as Binius observes And expresly repeated because they will make much of it in the counterfeit Letter of Fabianus a Roman Bishop and Martyr that lived about 1400 years agoto this purpose When he had said these things and many more like unto these looking upon the people again he said And you my dearest Brethren and Fellow-Servants obey this Man that presideth over you to teach you the Truth IN ALL THINGS Knowing that if any one grieveth him he receiveth not Christ who intrusted to him the Chair of Teaching and he that receiveth not Christ shall be judged not to have received God the Father and therefore neither shall himself be received into the Kingdom of Heaven c. But ever coming together to Clement Date omnes operam proipso sentire it is an Emphatical expression make it your business to be of his Opinion and with your utmost study to shew your 〈◊〉 towards him Knowing that for every one of your sakes the Enemy is more inraged against him alone and stirs up greater Wars against him Ye ought therefore to endeavour with your utmost study that being all knit together in the Bond of love towards him ye may cleave unto him with a most perfect affection But you also be sure to continue unanimous in all Concord that you may so much the more easily obey him with one Consent and Vnanimity For which both you may attain Salvation and he while ye obey him may more readily bear the weight of the Burden laid upon him They must with their utmost study favour him and bend all their Charity to each other for this very end that they may cleave the faster unto him for doing which they shall attain Salvation This environs the Popes Chair with Armies of Well-wishers and Servants But the Dangerous Passage follows which shakes all the Thrones and Kingdomes in the World Lest they should be an Army of silly Sheep and simple Doves wanting the Serpents Fraud and Sting He admonisheth them further that they all must be Enemies to their Popes Enemies and hate all that he hateth I leave Kings and Princes to judge of the words Quaedam etiamex vobis ipsis intelligere debetis c. Some things also ye ought to understand of your selves If there be any thing which he dares not evidently and manifestly speak out for fear of the Treacheries of evil men As for Instance If he be an Enemy to any one for his Deeds do not ye expect that he should tell you Be ye not Friends with such an one but ye ought prudently to observe and to do his Will without any Admonition and to turn from him against whom ye perceive he is an Enemy nor so much as to speak to him with whom he speaketh not c. That every one in fault while he covets to regain all your Friendships may the sooner make haste to be reconciled to him who is over all and by this return to Salvation while he begins to obey the Admonitions of his Superiour But if any one shall be a Friend to those to whom he is not a Friend or speak to those to whom he speaketh not he is one of them c. This dangerous Intimation is a sufficient hint sor Jesuitical Souls He declares his Principle that he is an Enemy to some contrary to our Saviours Order and gives order to his Disciples to guess at his meaning and without any publick notice to execute the same Hatred removes its Object he hates and they must do his Will without Admonition If they mistake his meaning provided they do it out of Zeal he can easily connive at it which suits with their Practises of Poysoning Emperours Murdering Kings attempting on Queens their Massacre at Paris the Gunpowder-Treason c. The Instruments of which Acts are by such Records rather favoured than discouraged and some of them Canonized rather than punished in the See of Rome FINIS * viz 〈◊〉 all the world to the Roman Chair This is the Canon opposed by the Forgeries * Dr. Stil Sermon on Acts 24. 17. pag. 45. * Dr. Stil Sermon on Acts 24. 17. pag. 45. Iren. Proem Lib. 1. cap. 1. 〈◊〉 Lib. 1. cap 〈◊〉 Vin. Lir. cap 39. Ibid. Ibid 〈◊〉 An. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5 6 7 8. Ibid. 〈◊〉 S. Bern. Serm. 〈◊〉 in Cant. S. 〈◊〉 Ibid. Ibid. Confer cap 7. Divis. 5. Bin. Tom. 1. Tractat de Primat c. Concil Nicen. 1. Can. 4. Concil Nic. 1. Can. 5. Concil Carth. 6. Epist. ad Celestin. Epist. Concil Carthag 6. ad Celestin. Baron Daillè concerning the right use of the Fathers lib. 1. cap. 4. Concil Chalced. Act. 16. Tom. 2. Concil Concil Chalced. Can. 28. Greg. lib. 6. Epist. 30. Lib. 4. Epist. 32. Lib. 6. Epist. 30. Greg. lib. 4. Epist. 34. Helvic Chronol Platin. in vir Bonif 3. Piatin in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Nicen 2. Act. Baron An. 〈◊〉 5. nn 6. 〈◊〉 ibid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 84. Ibid. 〈◊〉 An. Gen. 34 1 Kings Baron An. Christ. 865. nu 4. Baron An. 865. nu 6. An 865. nu 7. Ibid nu 7. Bellarm. de Rom. Pont lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 14. Confer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de Rom Pont. 〈◊〉 I. cap. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Epistolis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in vita Marc. Bell. de Rom. Pont. lib. 4. cap. 9 Baron An. Christ. 357. Liberii 6. nu 32 33. Bfn. in vit Liberii Bellarm. ut supra Bin. 〈◊〉 pist 3. Damasi in Epist Hieron ad Damas. Ibid. * Clausule insuesa sus picionem 〈◊〉 15 The Forgeries Fathered on the Holy Ghost Blondel cap. 6. Earon in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid. Turrian Can. 84. In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Clement E. pist 〈◊〉 Ibid. Vid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicol. Epist Dedicatad Sixt V. Nicol. 〈◊〉 Lectori Nicol. T. pogr Lectori No Legatus à Latere Nicol. ibid. 〈◊〉 de Concil Eccles. lib 〈◊〉 cap 〈◊〉 In Nat. Martyrol ad 〈◊〉 April Daille pag. 45. c. Things put into the Councils of Nice and Ephesus 〈◊〉 Nicolinus A 〈◊〉 for the Popes An. 520. ** Cunning honest men like Merlin's Printer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An. 〈◊〉 An. 〈◊〉 S. Peter's order about the 〈◊〉 ary * Clerke An. 184. An. 158. Colos. 2. 18 19. Easeb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An. 296. Peter Crab An. 304. An 309. An. 311. * Bin. Not. in Constant. Edict A Forgery beginning in the Name of the Father Son and H. Ghost * All the Nobles and the Se nate converted in a moment * Not built Ibid. Constanti e the Great gives his Cloaths to S Peter and S. Paul in heaven The Popes Guard Secular Power The Popes Army The Popes Horses False Latine and Nonsense Ibid The Popes Modesty 〈◊〉 the Great the Popes Groom or Stirrup-holder Ibid. The Popes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Popes 〈◊〉 Ibid. The Pope the Head of Religion The Sanction of the Decree Council 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Gregory the Great 's Blasphemous Title Bin. Not in Const intin 〈◊〉 Forgeries in the Name of Eusebius The Acts of Sylvester forged Greg. lib. 〈◊〉 Ep. 30 Greg. lib. 4. Epist. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Pope Leo. 〈◊〉 citet the Donat on * The Gravest and most Learned Doctors among the Papists use it without any suspition Constantin Donat. Ibid. 〈◊〉 a Forger Theod. in Colos. 2. Epiphan Hares 60. Lib. 1. de SS Beatcap 20. Bin. in Concil Rom. 〈◊〉 Sylvest 〈◊〉 Bin. in Ep Ashan ad Marc 〈◊〉 in Epist. Julii Epist. Concil Carth. 6. ad Calestin Ibid. Bel. de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 2 cap. 25. Ibid. Ibid. * Bin. Marg in Clement Epist. 1. * Fab Epist 1. * An. Christ 238. S. Peters Forged Oration * The Roman Bishop